News Release

Appointments Made to BLM Northeast California Resource Advisory Council

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has announced appointments to the Bureau of Land Management’s Northeast California Resource Advisory Council. The council advises the BLM on public land matters.

Newly appointed to the 15 member council are Alan B. Cain and Mike Dunn of Alturas, Gale Dupree of Loyalton and Pete Neely of Chester. Cain will represent wild horse and burro interest groups, Dupree will represent environmental interests and Neely will represent the public at large. Dunn, a member of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, will represent local government interests. Todd Swickard of Susanville was re-appointed to represent federal livestock grazing permit holders.

All appointments are for three-year terms.

The council next meets Feb. 7 and 8 at the BLM’s Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville.

“The BLM’s resource advisory councils are excellent examples of a collaborative approach to public land management and conservation,” said Secretary Kempthorne. “I welcome our new RAC members, commend them for their willingness to serve, and look forward to their counsel as we work together to improve the health and productivity of the public lands.”

The BLM’s RACs, comprised of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the BLM carry out its stewardship of 258 million acres of public lands. The BLM, which manages more land than any other federal agency, has 24 RACs across the west, where most BLM-managed land is located. Each RAC consists of 12 to 15 members with an interest in public land management. Members represent interests including ranchers, conservationists, outdoor recreationists, tribal officials, state and local government officials, academics and others.

BLM Director Jim Caswell said, “RAC members come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of perspectives to each of our councils. This diversity results in a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.”

The BLM, an agency of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for managing these various uses such as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, minerals development and energy production while conserving the land’s natural, historical and cultural resources.